]]
Publications
This report is available as a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view PDF files. Please note these are large files. We recommend you save the PDFs on to your computer/network before attempting to open or print them.
If you are unable to access the report, please email us or phone 61 (0)8 8920 1110 to organise a suitable alternative format.
Technical Memoranda 35
leGras CAA and Noller BN
Supervising Scientist, 1991
ISSN 0810-9532
ISBN 0 644 22353 7
Methods are described for the determination of low concentrations of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and strontium in rainwater and stream water by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). The procedures using a graphite furnace are shown to be very precise; comparison of results with waters of known composition, including reference waters, imply good accuracy with detection limits for sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and strontium of 6, 3, 1, 4 and 0.1 µg/L respectively. The secondary resonance line was used for all elements except strontium, for which the primary resonance line was used. Caution must be exercised in determinations of potassium and calcium in waters containing a high concentration of sulfate ion compared with analyte concentration.